Despite the obvious discord between Adalius Thomas and coach Bill Belichick, the LB is still a member of the Patriots, a situation the Boston Globe‘s Albert Breer attributes to a front-loaded contract that behooves the Patriots to keep Thomas on the roster at least until the new league year begins on March 5.

Jeff Reed missed two field goals in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ loss to the Chicago Bears, which turned out to be the difference for the defending champs. But John Harris of the Tribune-Review writes that it’s too easy to blame Reed.